Now that the members of the Colorado task force charged with studying oil and gas development have been named, I hope we can look forward to a good discussion.

It is certainly understandable that some folks have concerns about oil and gas development, but I hope that the task force has a civil and factual conversation on these issues. It seems as though the industry is often unfairly maligned by activists whose goal is to stop the use of fossil fuels.

However, often lost within that rhetoric are the many benefits of increased domestic energy production. In fact, there are many economic, national security and environmental benefits that deserve to be considered.

Coloradans deserve an honest conversation on oil and gas development that separates fact from myth and checks the heated campaign season rhetoric at the door. I hope this panel is up to that challenge.

Molly Vogt, Denver

This letter was published in the Sept. 12 edition.

I commend Gov. John Hickenlooper’s perseverance in creating a task force to settle issues of local versus state control of energy extraction (what would Bob Beauprez do?), yet qualified local representation is weak. There are three current/former local government officials and five heads of energy companies in the group. That’s not balanced.

Sustainable development of energy resources would go a long way toward resolving all of these issues. The concept of “drill for everything, everywhere, always and immediately” is not sustainable. They are finite resources and will run out sooner the faster they drill. And, while the energy companies will just go elsewhere, local and state governments will be left with the loss of jobs and revenue and the excess infrastructure.

Further, the future value of energy will be greater than today, so why not meter out extraction for long-term value? Boom today, bust tomorrow is a reality the commission must also address.

Greg Scott, Evergreen

This letter was published in the Sept. 12 edition.

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